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Training Protocol Helped Identify, Handle Suspicious Packages

The man suspected of sending more than a dozen suspicious packages to the D.C. area has a history of sending harassing letters to the government, investigators said. (Published Tuesday, March 27, 2018)

A man who allegedly sent more than a dozen suspicious packages to U.S. military installations and intelligence facilities in the Washington, D.C., area is known to federal agencies for having sent "badgering" letters in the past, according to law enforcement officials.

Thanh Cong Phan, 43, was arrested Monday at his home in Everett, Washington, the FBI announced Tuesday. Investigators used tracking information on one of the packages and reviewed surveillance video showing him.

Multiple packages were found Monday at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C., Fort McNair in D.C., Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia and the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia, the FBI said in the statement. Six packages were addressed to the CIA, NBC News' Pete Williams reports.

More packages showed up Tuesday at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Maryland, and the Secret Service facility that sorts the mail for the White House in D.C.

The first package was found at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in D.C. about 8:30 a.m. Monday. It was rendered safe and the building was cleared about 1:15 p.m.

Suspicious packages were sent to two sites at Fort Belvoir in Virginia Monday afternoon: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and another defense university.

Similar suspicious packages were found at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C., a CIA mail processing facility, a White House mail processing facility and Dahlgren Naval Air Station in Virginia, NBC News reported.